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The LCMS has two partner/sister churches in Russia, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia (ELCIR), based in the western city of St. Petersburg, and since December 2010, Siberian Evangelical Lutheran Church (SELC), based in the central-Russia city of Novosibirsk. LCMS World Mission is currently partnering in projects with the ELCIR, making Christ’s love known in word and deed and expanding specialized Gospel outreach. Your mission project funding will support...
Providing assistance for discipleship training and theological education:
Quality Christian resources are often too expensive for most young leaders. Through this project, a team of experienced translators will translate resources into Russian. These cover a wide range of topics useful to the Church including Bible commentaries, Lutheran doctrine, some of the writings of Martin Luther, church history, evangelism and practical ministerial resources. We will then provide Bibles and other books for pastors, youth leaders, musicians and Sunday-school teachers in Russian-language countries.
LCMS World Mission also provides support for the ELCIR seminary scholarship program helping defray the travel of students from across the large country with 11 time zones and their housing expense at the their seminary in Koltushi (near St. Petersburg). The ELCIR is growing at a rate that calls for more seminary-trained pastors. At this time, the students travels back and forth between their congregations (and second jobs) and the seminary.
There are many ELCIR lay people who wish to receive Christian training at their own pace on their own time. The digital electronic Lutheran library initiative will provide digital video resources individuals and small groups throughout the world. Many national and international educators are committed to recording their lectures recorded on digital video and a team of experienced translators will provide voice over and subtitles into the requested languages (Russian, German, Georgian, Spanish, etc. ) .
Supporting specialized evangelism projects:
After the fall of communism in Russia, the Lutheran Church emerged with the vigor and the strength of new life. Funding will support the evangelism activities of leaders from 15 to 20 partner congregations in approximately 40 schools, orphanages, youth clubs, cultural societies and local administrative offices. Leaders use lectures, camps, films, handouts, Bibles and more to take the Gospel to the local people. Every event will aim to connect the people reached with the nearest local assembly of believers or gather them into small groups for study at a Mission Education Center.
Lutherans have historically valued and promoted artistic endeavors that combine excellence with a profound witness to Christ. Through a series of events (exhibitions, concerts, lectures, performances) lasting for roughly one month (tentatively scheduled for May 2013), the ELCIR, in conjunction with LCMS World Mission and other partners, will present exceptional expressions of Christian art from around the world to the people of St. Petersburg. Lutheran artists and performers are especially invited to participate, to highlight and celebrate the contributions made by Lutherans in all areas of the arts. Funding support will initially go towards the work of coordinating the events.
Supporting personnel and partners in Russia and Central Asia
The Russia Business Office serves as the “nerve center” of a large network of projects and efforts to actively proclaim the Gospel, train partner church leaders and help partner churches grow and develop. The work done by specialists in this office frees the missionaries from devoting much of their time to logistical, business, visa, tax and banking issues. The office not only supports Russian and Georgian missions, but humanitarian and education work in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan as well.
Your support allows LCMS World Mission to continue mission outreach in this country. If more funds than necessary are received towards projects in this country, the additional funds will be used to support ministry in the same region. If you would like more specific information about these projects and ministry in this country or region, please contact us at 888-THE-LCMS (888-843-5267) or infocenter@lcms.org.
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